Issue Date:1/25/2010
Manufacturer News Lumber Liquidators (Toano, Va.) presented preliminary fourth quarter and annual sales results recently; the company expects a fourth quarter net sales increase of 17.6 percent to $137 million from $116.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. Same-store sales are expected to increase about 5.5 percent, compared with a 4.6 percent decrease during the same period a year ago. For all of 2009, net sales are expected to increase approximately 12.8 percent to $544 million from $482.2 million in 2008. Comparable store net sales are expected to be nearly flat for 2009, compared to an increase of 1.6 percent in 2008. As a result, the company expects 2009 earnings per share to be in the range of $0.95 to $0.97, based on a share count of 27.7 million, an increase from the previously expected range of $0.90 to $0.95. Also, Lumber Liquidators has released "Floor Finder," a free consumer iPhone application containing nearly 200 digital flooring samples and flooring specs such as hardness, species and installation information, as well as other features.
Armstrong Floor Products (Lancaster, Pa.) has announced that prices will increase 4 to 6 percent on select hardwood flooring, commercial sheet vinyl, linoleum and residential sheet and tile products effective with shipments on March 15. Armstrong's vice president of sales, Paul Murfin, attributed the increases to rising prices for raw materials, transportation costs and oil and other energy prices. "Lumber prices also are rising. Significant mill capacity was taken off-line during the recession and the impact on lumber costs in the second half of 2009 has been significant," Murfin said in a statement.
Sound Seal's (Agawam, Mass.) acoustic noise control products are now part of the Regupol America (Lebanon, Pa.) brand.
Professional Coatings Inc. (Cabot, Ark.) has named the following companies RadCoat-certified: Acme Flooring (Lenexa, Kan.), Aloha Hardwood Flooring (Bryant, Ark.), Champion Floor Company (St. Louis), Decorative Flooring (Port St. Joe, Fla.), Diener Hardwood Floors (Arthur, Ill.), Flash-UV (Goodyear, Ariz.), J.L. Vivash Custom Wood (Paris, Ontario), One-Night Floors (Cheyenne, Wyo.), Sandmasters Inc. (Saukville, Wis.), UV-Cured (Gales Ferry, Conn.), UV-Cure-It (Wellesly, Mass.), and Vivid Finishes (Alpharetta, Ga.).
Pinnacle Interior Elements Inc. (Carrollton, Texas) has received FSC Forest Management Certification from the Rainforest Alliance's SmartWood program.
Homerwood's (Titusville, Pa.) manufacturing facility in Titusville, Pa., has earned FSC Chain of Custody Certification.
Distributor News Erickson's Flooring & Supply (Ferndale, Mich.) has been named a distributor for Basic Coatings' (Toledo, Ohio) finish products; Basic's products are now available at all Erickson's locations. For more information, call 800/225-9663.
Horizon Forest Products (Raleigh, N.C.) and Long Floor (Richmond, N.C.) have re-located their Beltsville, Md., facility to 10549 Tucker Street. The new 36,000-square-foot building boasts a larger showroom and allows for indoor truck loading during inclement weather. Also, both companies have received FSC Chain of Custody Certification.
SupexBond Inc. (Montreal, Quebec) is seeking distributors for its SupexBond wood flooring adhesive in California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Texas, Wisconsin, Kansas, Illinois, Minnesota, Georgia, New York, Virginia, North Carolina and Florida. For more information, contact Tavis Renglich at 514/667-6903, ext 244, or [email protected].
Old Master Products Inc. (Van Nuys, Calif.) has received FSC Chain of Custody Certification for its prefinished and unfinished products. This certification follows FSC Certification of The Garrison Collection.
Jeffco Flooring & Supply Inc. (Nashville, Tenn.) has received FSC Chain of Custody Certification.
Contractor/Dealer News C & R Flooring (Needham, Mass.) was recognized for "Best Classic Flooring" by the 2010 Best of Boston Home Awards. The company took home the award for "Best Hardwood Floor Refinisher" in 2008.
Launstein Hardwood Floors (Mason, Mich.) is seeking dealers in Canada. Interested parties should e-mail [email protected] or call 888/339-4639.
People News At Appalachian Flooring Ltd. (Cowansville, Quebec), Stan Abel is once again the company's Midwest sales representative. Abel can be reached at 416/399-2435 or [email protected].
Finium (Frampton, Québec) has named Dereck Gosselin development and sales manager for the U.S. market. Gosselin has been working in the wood flooring industry for more than five years and can be reached at [email protected] or at 418/479-2950, ext. 234, or 819/439-4519.
Brandon Spearman of Spearhead Marketing (Langley, British Columbia) has been named a manufacturer's representative for Glitsa American (Seattle) finishes in western Canada. Spearman has 15 years' experience in the flooring industry, most recently working for a Canadian wood flooring distributor. Spearman can be reached at 604/539-7280 or [email protected].
Scott Banda has been promoted to a new position-business manager, consumer products group-for Bostik Inc.'s (Middleton, Mass.) Construction & Industrial (C&I) Business Unit. Banda was most recently Bostik's market manager for ceramic installation systems.
Moisture Control Services (Glendale Heights, Ill.) has named Garrett Freeman industry sector manager. Freeman will manage national accounts for the company.
Floor Style Products Inc. (Hastings, Mich.) has expanded its sports flooring division. Dave Posey, who has been with Floor Style Products for the last three years, has been named sports flooring national manager. Before joining Floor Style Products, Posey operated a flooring company in California. Also, Mike Anderson has been named a customer support representative in Texas and surrounding states. Anderson previously worked at Aacer Flooring and Basic Coatings. Anderson can be reached at [email protected]; Posey can be reached at 916/826-4856 or [email protected].
By the Numbers
Year-end figures from the Commerce Department show that overall housing starts in 2009 declined 38.8 percent to 554,000 units. Single-family starts in 2009 were down 28.7 percent to 444,000 units.FMI Corporation (Raleigh, N.C.), management consultants and investment bankers for the construction industry, has released its Construction Outlook: Fourth Quarter 2009 Report, which predicts that 2009 was likely the bottom in terms of percent decline, while 2010 will be the bottom in terms of dollar volume. While residential construction is expected to begin recovering in 2010, the report predicts it will be just the beginning of the downfall for nonresidential construction, which typically lags the general economy by about 18 months. The full report can be found at www.fminet.com/article/727.
On the Web Pioneer Millworks (Farmington, N.Y.) has a new Web site showcasing its reclaimed and sustainable wood flooring and other salvaged wood products at www.pioneermillworks.com.
In Memoriam One of NWFA's charter members, Patrick O'Neill with O'Neill Wood Floor Contractors (Fort Wayne, Ind.), a fourth-generation business, passed away in December after a short battle with lung cancer. O'Neill was 61. Ed Korczak, Executive Director/CEO of the National Wood Flooring Association, stated that O'Neill was "a passionate advocate for the wood flooring industry. We have lost a good friend. Our prayers are with his family." Patrick's wife, Barb, asks that individuals interested in purchasing tools and equipment from the business contact her at 260/705-3567 or [email protected].
Mark Your Calendar Decorative Flooring's (Port St. Joe, Fla.) Jim Garth will hold a Custom Wood Floor School March 18-20 in Port St. Joe. For more information or to sign up, visit www.woodfloorschool.com, or call 877/229-7720.
Erickson's Flooring & Supply (Ferndale, Mich.) will hold educational conferences on these dates: Feb. 27, Ferndale, Mich.; March 6, Grand Rapids, Mich.; March 20, Glendale Heights, Ill.; and March 27, Indianapolis. The conferences will be held at Erickson's branch locations and will feature vendor representatives, hands-on product training and demonstrations, business classes, door prizes, sale pricing and special deals on many products. Call 800/225-9663 for more information or to register.
George Hedley of Hardhat Presentations (Costa Mesa, Calif.) will hold a Profit-Builder Circle Academy on Jan. 29-30 in Costa Mesa at no cost. For more information, e-mail [email protected] or call 800/851-8553, ext. 17.
Howard Brickman will teach his Advanced Wood Floor Installation course on Feb. 10-13 at the Bona US regional training center in Monroe, N.C. Course sponsors, including Mountain Lumber, Goodwin Heart Pine, Powernail Company, Bona US, and Brickman Consulting, are now offering students discounts off their products totaling more than $3,200. Class size is limited to 12 students; students should bring their own hand tools, while power tools will be provided. The cost for the course is $1,299, which includes a four-night hotel, daily lunch and refreshments. For more information or to sign up, contact Bona's Betty Jo Hargrave at 303/923-6632 or [email protected]; or contact Brickman at 617/901-6407 or [email protected]
Job Watch Junckers Hardwood Inc. (New York) is seeking a West Coast sales manager; an "attractive compensation package" is being offered. Interested parties should e-mail résumés to [email protected] or fax résumés to: Attn Sales at 212/334-8062.
Tesoro Woods (Pennsauken, N.J.) is seeking experienced independent manufacturer sales agents for its engineered and solid hardwood flooring products. Positions are available in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico. Candidates should have five years of imported and specialty hardwood sales experience. Résumés can be sent to [email protected] with "Tesoro Rep" in the subject line.
Floor Style Products Inc. is seeking applicants for outside sales positions in the greater Boston area, Atlanta and Los Angeles to prepare these areas for future branch locations. Interested parties should send a résumé to Dave Posey at [email protected].
Gregory Smith, former national sales manager at Chelsea Plank Flooring, is seeking employment opportunities. Smith can be reached at [email protected] or 517/304-1802.
After nine years in sales, marketing, product development and supply chain management at EcoTimber, most recently as VP of Product Development, Dan Harrington is seeking a new position that can utilize his knowledge of both flooring and green issues. He has expertise in wood and bamboo flooring manufacture, bamboo sourcing, installation/tech support, sustainability, and indoor air quality issues, as well as years of close work with environmental and green building groups. Interested parties can contact him at [email protected]
NWFA Member Services NWFA members looking for reliable and cost-effective shipping services can count on FedEx. FedEx offers NWFA members preferred pricing on select shipping services. There are no enrollment fees and no minimum shipping requirements to take advantage of this exclusive NWFA member benefit. For more information, or to enroll in the program, contact FedEx at 800/636-2377, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern).
Ed Maguire, owner at Hanover, Mass.-based E.F. Maguire Floorcovering, is the latest winner of Hardwood Floors' Visa gift card giveaway. Morgan won a $25 gift card by visiting the Hardwood Floors Online Resource Center (woodfloorbusiness.com/resourcecenter) and requesting information from the featured advertisers. To enter the next drawing, visit the Hardwood Floors Online Resource Center at woodfloorbusiness.com/resourcecenter to request information from featured advertisers. Feb. 15 is the last day to be entered in a drawing for an iTunes gift card.
